Review on Enhanced SEO: GPX C224B Dual Alarm 🕒 Clock AM/FM Radio with Red LED Display (Black) by Dylan Aaronson

5/24/2018 I really should have edited this review a year ago. Thing is, I bought another one from a store that has a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy. The program on it was different from what I originally described below. It worked much better, but a year later it broke just as badly - the speaker failed. These things aren't made to last, folks. You know when American goods were really made in the USA it was common for a radio to last 10-15 or even 20 years! In fact, there's a 1991 Sony Dream machine you can still pick up today for a fraction of the original suggested retail price, especially when you factor in inflation. It's available here under the model number ICFC303, although there should really be a dash between the C and F. It was the first dream machine with digital PLL tuning and received rave reviews at the time. Many raved that this was the best clock radio Sony had ever made. It's still cheap because SO MUCH is still out there! They don't break. Today I'm ordering a very, very used one. How much do you want to bet that it lasts a few more years? Trump may be REALLY right about China. I downgraded my rating to 3 stars because the radio broke after 6 months. This should be the solder that connects to the speaker. The watch and all other functions still work perfectly. I am extremely disappointed. I think I got $10 off this thing, but I have several computers, dozens of calculators, and half a dozen clock radios, and I've NEVER seen a digital product fail after six months of flawless operation. I have never crumpled or dropped it - EVER! I read somewhere that GPX has good quality control, and DIRECTLY IN THE DESCRIPTION it says "GPX has earned a solid reputation for excellent product quality and reliability." Ha! I'm almost ready to give up anything made in China. If I could find something similar from Japan for $25-30 I would buy it. I'd give $35 for "made in the good old USA" ------- All but one of the negative reviews focus on how durable the GPXC224B is. use. "Coding is painful,” they say. Trouble is, EVERY digital clock radio has this complaint in their reviews! Let's face it: Windows doesn't ship with this device. There is no graphical interface there. It has 7 buttons - that's all. THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD to get all the advanced features people want in a clock radio without assigning multiple functions to each button. So modes. In this case, this means that the buttons have different functions depending on whether the radio is on or off. The buttons also have different functions depending on whether you hold them down or press and release immediately. Nobody but a computer programmer can learn how to operate a digital clock radio without reading the instructions. I am a developer. I still read the instructions because I am NOT a MASOCIST! I understood the principles behind this interface: 1) No dials or switches. (Buttons are cheaper and last forever.) 2) No need to hold two buttons at once (too tight when lying in bed). 3) There are two modes - radio on and radio off. 4) This is it. .With these three ideas and a look at the button labels and some trial and error, you should be able to figure out how to do the most important things. You can also find out why certain things CANNOT be executed. I doubt I'll need to refer to the instructions much in the future, but I'm not stupid - I put a piece of paper in a small plastic bag and taped it to the bottom of the radio. Pros: 1) It has all the features I need and nothing I don't need, making programming easy despite any whining. 2) It's small, so it fits perfectly on my bedside table, but it's flat and light, so it's hard to knock and break. 3) Many presets - 10 o'clock plus 10 FM. And yes, I programmed all 20 presets. 4) Backup battery to save time and presets in case of power failure. No, the alarms do not work and the display does not light up when the air conditioning is off. 5) A good, loud beep that can wake up a hard of hearing old man sleeping with a blanket over his head. 6) Festival. tactile feedback on the keys.7) All keys have a different shape. It's easy to work in the dark. 8) Good reception. Cons: 1) Small speaker - no bass. 2) Poor quality control. 3) Programming can be difficult for some as there are only 7 buttons. If this can be a problem I recommend buying two separate units - a radio and an old fashioned analog alarm clock. It'll cost you a few bucks, but you can get a GREAT radio with GREAT reception and booming bass, and as loud or quiet as you want. Tip: I'm not one of those tender souls who can't sleep with a little red LED in the room. But if that bothers you, LightDims Customizable Edition was made for you. Another tip, if you don't need 10 AM or 10 FM presets, you can double the number of stations on some stations so you don't have to go through P1-P10 to find your station.